I love getting mail!

I had taken part in an auction where the proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer.
Lex was auctioning off her beautiful jewelry that she makes herself!! She raised $140! That's awesome!
(she also did my blog-makeover!)

This is what I 'won'! It just came in the mail today!!




*squeeee* (that's my excited squeal)

I'm honestly very grateful for Lex. She's a great woman with amazing talent!

You need to go visit her over at Indelible Creations, she's doing a great price at Christmas blog makeovers!

Thank you Lex. I really appreciate you taking your time for an awesome cause. You are a very talented woman!
(*extra thanks for the extra! they're beautiful!)

MHR #11

I have done a My Husband Rocks post in a few weeks. *bad wifey*

I'm not the most easy person to live with. *gasp* I know.

He's still here, and still trying to make me laugh.

Since we have two little gremlins (said with the utmost affection, of course), we don't get to go out together very much.

I bought us ticket to go see Jeff Dunham on Sunday Nov.30Th.

Holy crap he's freaking hysterical!

Here's a taste if you've never heard of him:



None the less, we're very excited for a REAL date night! Honestly we haven't had one in FOREVER!!

I know he's excited because this is his favorite comedian, and he gets to spend the evening with me without the gremlins underfoot!! YAY!!

Crock Pot Creation # 4

*This one I actually got to try!!

Creamy Cooker Chicken
by Violette Harris Denney from Carrollton, GA
(makes 6 servings)

1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 cups sour cream
1- 10 3/4oz can cream of mushroom soup
6 boneless, skinless checken-breast halves

Directions

1. Combine soup mix, sour cream, and cream of mushroom soup in slow cooker.
Add chicken, pushing it down so it is submerged in the sauce.

2. Cover Cook on Low 8 hours.

3. Serve over rice or noodles.


My weird methods
I didn't have anymore chicken breasts so I used frozen bonless chicken tenderloins.

Hubby, Kids, and My Thoughts
Hubby said it was like the pork chop recipe that we did a couple weeks ago. Boys ate it up! I loved it over rice, it was a very simple meal.

All in all, another winner! *yay*

Stolen

Let's see if you can follow this....(kinda funny they way I stole it!)

I was at my favorite site, The Secrets in the Sauce and was reading the 'Saucy' blogs.

I happened upon a wonderful blog titled The Road Less Traveled. (a must read)

She happened to read a post on Tiffany's blog.

Tiffany stole it from Jori,

who stole it from Cara

who found this awesome site called Where The Hell Is Matt?.

*whew*

That being said, here is the video that I stole from Mrs.DeMiranda.

It's a amazing.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Crock Pot Creation #3

Yeah, tuesday I completely forgot to crock pot for hubby and the kids. They managed though, nobody was starving!

Chicken and Vegetables (can you tell I'm starting with the easy stuff?)
by Jeanne Heyerly in Chenoa, IL
(2 servings)

2 medium potatoes, quartered
2-3 carrots, sliced
2 frozen chicken breasts, or 2 frozen drumstick/thigh pieces
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 cups shredded cabbage
16oz. can chicken broth

Directions

1. Place potatoes and carrots in slow cooker. Layer chicken on top. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion, and garlic. Top with cabbage. Carefully pour chicken broth around edges.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 8-9 hours.

My weird methods:
This one I definitely doctored up a bit because it was only made for two servings!
I put 3 chicken breasts instead of two. I did not use cabbage because I don't think the boys would've liked that. I used 3 potates, 2 carrots, and 3 garlic cloves, and an extra splash of chicken broth.

Hubby and Kids Thoughts:
Hubby said it needed more seasoning. Kids ate it. Both said it was alright, but nothing fantastic.
So we'll see if we attempt this one in the future!

I'm Done. I Quit.

That's what I want to scream (while throwing anything within reach) at my a**hole bosses.

Back story:
I've been employed at a certain restaurant for almost 4 years. I've been bartending 1 1/2 of those years. I'm a good, hard worker. Teamwork, neatness, quickness, politeness, and manners are my strong qualities. I actually do above and beyond what is expected of the bartenders there. I'm not tooting my own horn, but I actually have strong work ethics. *gasp* Work ethics? What's that? If you'd work in this restaurant, you wouldn't know the meaning of that.

There are two drunks that come in that I don't deal with. The one has walked out on his bill 4 times, but is able to come back in the next day to pay and receive more drinks because 'he's a paying customer'. (paying customer, my ass. waste of space is more like it) The other is a mouthy drunk. I definitely know how to handle my own, but I don't put up with shit either.

We have another bartender who is a joke. But the managers think she's the savior of the bar. She gives out free drinks (all the time, which is TERRIBLE for our liquor count!), she hangs all over the guys (she's engaged with an 11 yr old son), and acts like she's 13. She's very immature and extremely unprofessional. But the bosses think she's the best thing since white bread.

Last Night:
So last night I go into work at 4. I went into my bosses office to ask for a raise. Now mind you, bartenders always have made more than the other employees. I explain to him the reasons that I know I deserve a raise (as stated above). He checks to see what I'm currently making, and when my last raise was.

'I see you received a raise in August of 2007'. Um, yeah, I was making less than minimum wage then, that's why I asked for one, and that was over a year ago. I'm barely making minimum wage as it is now. He'll see what he can do. Whatever.

The end of the night comes, and my front of the house manager is making conversation with our customers (our employees mostly). Someone makes a comment on how the bar used to be so busy with regulars (our one fantastic bartender got fired 3yrs ago for something stupid). My manager had the balls to say that the 'other bartender' has more clientele than he's ever seen.

I'm sorry, what? Just because she hangs ALL OVER them, free drinks all night, and provides them with illegal substances (that she does outside on her 'smoke break')makes her clientele awesome? What a joke. This is a family restaurant, not a strip club.
The manager has to unlock the back door for me to leave. This is the following conversation.

Me: Tell me, do you think I'm doing alright back behind the bar?

Him: Well, yeah.... (I felt there was something underlying with that)

Me: Well, what can I do to improve?

Him: Well it just that 'other bartender' seems to be more...

Me: Layed back?

Him: No, she's caters more to the guys.

Me: Don't you mean she hangs all over them? (I'm starting to turn red here)

Him: Well if that how she's making us more money, I guess it works.

Me: Well I don't find it necessary for me to hang all over anyone. I cater to everyone. I don't kiss ass, though. Is that bad? (sarcasm was all over that one)

Him: For your standards, no.

Me: (f@#$%ing fuming now) Alright, bye.

For my standards???!?!?! I'm sorry, I didn't realize that I needed to be a skank to work at the bar here. I'm sorry disgusted, sickened,and furious.

I'm going to find another job. That's it. I bust my butt for nothing. There's no encouragement here. I'm not asking for a cookie, just a simple 'thank you' or 'good job'. I do more than anyone ever has behind that bar.

I'm going to find another job, work out the bills, and find a school for a nursing program so I don't have to work in another restaurant after school.

Oh, the Nastiness!

You know it's a sad sick world when you find people making things out of tampons.

Yes, you heard me. Tampons.

I happened to come across this hysterical blog called Glitter Gone Bad.

Glitter Gone Bad posts about crafts gone wrong. It's funny and scary at the same time.

Please, if you're the crafting type, don't use feminine hygiene products as crafts supplies.

That's just really freaking nasty.

Crock Pot Creation #2

Made it to #2! *Yay me*

(seriously groggy this a.m. so bear with me if this doesn't make sense, or if I mess it up ;)

Pork Chops and Gravy
by Sharon Wantland in Menomonee Falls, WI
(makes 8 servings)

8 pork chops
salt to taste
pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. oil
2- 10 3/4 oz. cans cream of mushroom soup
1 large onion, sliced
12oz. can evaporated milk

Directions

1. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Brown in oil. Drain. Transfer to slow cooker.

2. In separate bowl, whisk together mushroom soup, onion, and evaporated milk until smooth. Pour over chops.

3. Cook on High 3-4 hours, or Low 6-8 hours.

Variations
To increase flavor, stir 1/2-1 cup sour cream, or 1/4 cup sherry, into mixture during last 30 minutes of cooking time.

My weird methods:
Really didn't have any with this one, oh except that I only had 6 pork chops, not 8 and it worked fine.

Hubby and kids thoughts:
Once again hubby thought it was great! All he had to do was make up some rice and a veggie and it was game on! Owen loved it! Cole was being his normal pissy, picky self.

All in all, another winner! Yay!

Crock Pot Creation #1

I'm not a cook. I can bake and love to try new recipes. With that said, I'm attempting to teach myself to cook. I can make a mean roast beef, lasagna, and baked ziti.

That's about it.

Until now. I've got a crock pot and the Fix It and Forget It crock potting book.

I feel bad that I work 4-5 nights a week and I leave hubby to fend for himself and the kids. (don't feel too bad, his cooking is awesome)

So here's the first of many (hopefully) recipes I've tried out.

Pot Roast- by Carole Whaling in New Tripoli PA
(8 servings)

4 medium potatoes, cubed
4 carrots, sliced
1 onion, sliced
3-4 lb. rump roast, or pot roast, cut into serving size pieces
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 bouillon cube
1/2 cup boiling water

Directions
1. Put vegetables and meat in slow cooker. Stir in salt and pepper.

2. Dissolve bouillon cube in water, then pour over other ingredients.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 10-12 hours.

My weird methods:
Apparently I have a small crock pot, because I could only fit in 2lbs of the roast.
I cooked it on High for about 3 hours, then switched it to Low because I started late.

Hubby and kid's thoughts:
He thought it was awesome! The boys thought it was great because they didn't have to wait for daddy to cook!

Over all it was a winner! *yay me!*

(oh, and it's sad, but I don't think I'll get to try any of these because of work!)

Paramore's Decode from the Twilight Soundtrack

Decode from Paramore Spain on Vimeo.


Oh, be still my heart. I found Julie on Blog Around the World, and she had this AWESOME video! Her hubby has been working on the video!! (Me *so* jealous!)

Thought I would put this out there for my fellow Twilighters!!

(Oh, I'm so team Edward! *sigh*)

Me lovey this, long time!

You see this? I want this! No, scratch that, I NEED this!! (especially since I'm currently using my parents hand-me-down from 1892)

Now, you need to go here to enter for the contest. Um, but remember...I need this, and it would be a lovely Christmas present to me!! :)

I tell ya, those ladies over there at The Secrets in the Sauce are freaking awesome!!
(come join...we'll let you live, I promise)

Stuck in My Head

Why am I stuck?

I see me, where I want to be..

It's there, right at my fingertips.

so close,

just..can't...get...there.

I have support,

I have the love,

I don't have me.

Who am I?

I am a wife, mom, daughter, sister, and a friend.

Wait, aren't I a woman?

Are you sure?

I'm not.

I feel stuck in my head, my mind.

Sometimes it's hard for me to come out.

Everything else comes first.

Me? I'll get there.

Hopefully, I'll find me.

It's hard to find yourself...

over...

and over again.

One day, maybe I'll be unstuck.

One day.